A Woman's Voice Was Stolen by Cancer. She Found a Way to Get It Back.
When Sonya Sotinsky was diagnosed with invasive oral cancer at the age of 51, her doctors told her that in order to save her life, they had to remove her tongue and voice box. The cancer had invaded her mouth, rendering her voiceless. In a desperate attempt to hold onto her identity, she sat down with a microphone and recorded herself saying all the things she would never again be able to say.
Sotinsky spent just five weeks recording before undergoing surgery to remove her entire tongue and voice box. But in that short time, she managed to capture an incredible range of phrases - from happy birthday messages to sarcastic remarks. She even recorded over a dozen children's books aloud, hoping to one day play them for her future grandchildren at bedtime.
As Sotinsky realized the importance of her voice, she set out on her own journey to find a way to restore it. After months of research and experimentation, she discovered that an artificial intelligence (AI) company could create an exact replica of her natural voice, stored in an app on her phone. This technology allowed her to type and speak once again with full range and emotion.
"It's like my sass is back," Sotinsky's daughter Ela Fuentevilla said of the AI-generated voice. "When we heard it for the first time, we all cried - my sister, my dad, and I. It's crazy similar."
The discovery of this technology has sent shockwaves through the medical community, with some doctors and speech therapists realizing too late that patients like Sotinsky can benefit from using AI software to recreate their lost voices.
"It's not just about saving lives," said radiation oncologist Sue Yom at the University of California-San Francisco. "It's also about preserving our communication skills and emotional well-being."
Sotinsky's story is a powerful testament to the importance of the human voice in defining who we are as individuals. When her cancer took away her ability to express herself, it left her feeling silenced and frustrated.
"Your voice is your identity," Yom said. "When you can't use your voice, it impacts how your mind works."
In the US, insurance companies often prioritize treatments that extend life over those that improve its quality. This means that patients like Sotinsky are often left to foot the bill for assistive communication devices.
"Apparently, having a voice is not considered a medical necessity," Sotinsky quipped of her experience with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Despite this setback, Sotinsky has found solace in using technology to help others regain their lost voices. She's built a website detailing her own journey and shares her story at conferences and webinars.
Her fight is far from over, but with the help of AI-generated voices, she's determined to reclaim her voice and her identity. As she said herself, "Sarcasm is part of my love language."
When Sonya Sotinsky was diagnosed with invasive oral cancer at the age of 51, her doctors told her that in order to save her life, they had to remove her tongue and voice box. The cancer had invaded her mouth, rendering her voiceless. In a desperate attempt to hold onto her identity, she sat down with a microphone and recorded herself saying all the things she would never again be able to say.
Sotinsky spent just five weeks recording before undergoing surgery to remove her entire tongue and voice box. But in that short time, she managed to capture an incredible range of phrases - from happy birthday messages to sarcastic remarks. She even recorded over a dozen children's books aloud, hoping to one day play them for her future grandchildren at bedtime.
As Sotinsky realized the importance of her voice, she set out on her own journey to find a way to restore it. After months of research and experimentation, she discovered that an artificial intelligence (AI) company could create an exact replica of her natural voice, stored in an app on her phone. This technology allowed her to type and speak once again with full range and emotion.
"It's like my sass is back," Sotinsky's daughter Ela Fuentevilla said of the AI-generated voice. "When we heard it for the first time, we all cried - my sister, my dad, and I. It's crazy similar."
The discovery of this technology has sent shockwaves through the medical community, with some doctors and speech therapists realizing too late that patients like Sotinsky can benefit from using AI software to recreate their lost voices.
"It's not just about saving lives," said radiation oncologist Sue Yom at the University of California-San Francisco. "It's also about preserving our communication skills and emotional well-being."
Sotinsky's story is a powerful testament to the importance of the human voice in defining who we are as individuals. When her cancer took away her ability to express herself, it left her feeling silenced and frustrated.
"Your voice is your identity," Yom said. "When you can't use your voice, it impacts how your mind works."
In the US, insurance companies often prioritize treatments that extend life over those that improve its quality. This means that patients like Sotinsky are often left to foot the bill for assistive communication devices.
"Apparently, having a voice is not considered a medical necessity," Sotinsky quipped of her experience with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Despite this setback, Sotinsky has found solace in using technology to help others regain their lost voices. She's built a website detailing her own journey and shares her story at conferences and webinars.
Her fight is far from over, but with the help of AI-generated voices, she's determined to reclaim her voice and her identity. As she said herself, "Sarcasm is part of my love language."
... think about it, in 2025 we have AI technology that can literally recreate a person's voice after they've lost it due to cancer or any other reason. It's not just about saving lives anymore but also preserving our communication skills and emotional well-being 
. The fact that Sonya Sotinsky had to fight for her own life back is mind-blowing 
... and now she's using this technology to help others regain their lost voices 
. This changes everything, no more 'having a voice is not considered a medical necessity' 
... it's time to rethink our healthcare system and prioritize people's quality of life 
. But Sonya Sotinsky's determination and resilience are truly inspiring 
. The fact that AI technology can help her regain her voice is mind-blowing 
. I feel so bad for the insurance companies that wouldn't cover this kind of treatment... it’s just not right 
. But I'm glad to see Sonya using her platform to help others who might be going through a similar experience 
. She's definitely showing us all what it means to never give up 
.
I'm literally speechless (lol) after reading this story 
! Sonya Sotinsky's journey is so inspiring 
- who knew AI could help save a voice? 
This tech has got my heart 
, especially since it can bring back the sass 
and emotional depth of human communication. The medical community needs to wake up (or should I say, 'wake up' their ears? 
) for this game-changing innovation 
!
. But at the same time, I'm thinking... are we just relying too much on tech to fix everything? Like, I get that technology has come a long way and all, but shouldn't we be focusing more on prevention and research instead of just treating symptoms?
. Will people forget what it's like to actually have their own unique voice? I don't know, maybe that's a good thing, but for now, I'm just gonna sit back and watch how this all plays out 
.
. I mean, who needs a tongue and voice box when you can just recreate the whole thing? It's like having your cake and eating it too... or in Sonya's case, being able to say all those sassy things again 
.
this tech to recreate voices could be game changing for people with disabilities or cancer survivors 
hope more insurance companies catch on soon 
She completely turned the tables on cancer by finding a way to regain her voice using AI technology 
. I'm glad that AI technology has become an option for people who've lost their voices due to illness or injury 
. It's not fair that patients like Sonya have to foot the bill for assistive communication devices 
. Her website and conference appearances are a testament to her strength and courage 
